CVE-2012-1724 in Java SE JRE
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) component in Oracle Java SE 7 update 4 and earlier, and 6 update 32 and earlier, allows remote attackers to affect availability, related to JAXP.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1724 resides within the Java Runtime Environment component of Oracle Java SE versions 7 update 4 and earlier, as well as Java SE 6 update 32 and earlier. This unspecified weakness specifically impacts the Java XML Processing (JAXP) functionality, which serves as a core component for processing xml data within java applications. The vulnerability represents a significant security concern as it affects the availability aspect of the system, potentially allowing remote attackers to disrupt service operations without requiring authentication or elevated privileges.
The technical flaw manifests within the JAXP implementation where improper handling of certain xml processing operations can lead to denial of service conditions. This vulnerability falls under the category of availability attacks as defined by the attack pattern taxonomy, where the primary impact is the disruption of service availability rather than data compromise or privilege escalation. The weakness likely involves memory management issues or resource exhaustion during xml parsing operations that could be exploited through crafted xml inputs. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which covers "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" or "Resource Exhaustion" conditions that can result in denial of service scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it affects the fundamental reliability of java applications running on affected jre versions. Attackers can potentially exploit this weakness to cause application crashes, system slowdowns, or complete service unavailability, particularly in environments where xml processing is heavily utilized. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where java applications serve critical business functions, as it could lead to significant operational downtime and financial losses. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access to the target system, making it a serious threat vector for attackers who can send malicious xml data over network connections.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through official oracle security patches. The recommended mitigation strategy involves updating to the latest available versions of java se 6 and 7, specifically targeting versions that have addressed this jaxp-related availability issue. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include implementing xml input validation and sanitization at application layers, as well as configuring firewalls to restrict unnecessary xml processing capabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and highlights the critical need for continuous vulnerability assessment and management programs to address similar weaknesses in java runtime environments and other core software components. The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly wide given that jaxp is a fundamental part of java's xml processing capabilities, making it a common target for attackers seeking to disrupt java-based services.